Not that I deserve respect or loyalty either.
“Raiden stirred the seeds of rebellion among our people,” Os adds quietly. “Even when he’s gone, there will be some who remain. So we need a ruler who is as feared as he is respected. Someone so powerful that no one would dare try to steal the throne again.” He turns back to Vane, sizing him up with his stare. “I’m still not convinced that you can be that warrior. But you’re the best chance we have. The throne will fall to you.”
“Well then, I guess I don’t need this,” Solana mumbles as she unclasps her gold cuff and sets it on the floor, backing away from it like it carries a disease.
“Not necessarily,” Os tells her, bending down and retrieving the link. “This matter is far from settled.”
“Uh—yeah it is,” Vane corrects.
“Trust me when I tell you it isn’t.” Os walks over to Solana and clamps the bracelet back on her wrist.
Her left wrist this time, like their commitment is already sealed.
Solana frowns. “But . . . they’re bonded.”
“Yes,” Os says, looking straight at me. “And bonds can be broken.”
CHAPTER 31
VANE
I
know I’m new to this Windwalker stuff—but one of the few things I was pretty sure I had figured out was that bonds are permanent. I thought that was why Audra spent so much time ruining my dates and turning me into a huge joke at school—and why it took so freaking long to convince her to finally kiss me.
And yet, Audra doesn’t seem nearly as surprised by this revelation as I am. If anything she looks . . . worried.
“Is that true?” I whisper, giving her the cue to tell me it’s a mistake.
The fact that she won’t look at me says it all.
I sink to the edge of my bed, my head spinning too much to stay standing. “You told me bonds couldn’t be broken!”
“I thought they couldn’t,” she admits. “But Aston said—” “Wait, you saw Aston?” Os interrupts. “He’s alive?”
She nods.
Os gazes into space for a second—then reels on Gus. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I guess I forgot. A lot happened yesterday.”
“Yes . . . I suppose it did.” Os sighs and turns back to Audra. “When did you see him?”
“About three days ago.”
Os steps closer, grabbing Audra’s wrist. “Can you take me there?”
She pulls her hand free and sits next to me on the bed. I can’t help noticing how high my shirt creeps up her thigh, but the mood is kind of killed when she whispers, “He’s not the Gale you remember, Os. Raiden tortured and twisted him into someone incredibly unstable—and incredibly powerful. He conquered me without ever having to step out of the shadows of his cave, and if he hadn’t chosen to let me go, I would still be his captive.”
“But he did let you go, didn’t he?” Os asks.
“He did,” she admits. “And I’m still not sure why.”
She stares at a faint blister on her wrist, and I don’t think I want to know how she got it. If he hurt her I’ll—
“We need to find him,” Os says.
Audra shakes her head. “He told me he would kill anyone who comes near his hideout—and believe me, he’s capable.”
“All the more reason why we need to get him back on our side.”
“Okay, can we back up a second?” I interrupt. “We can deal with psycho cave boy after you explain what the crap you mean about bonds being broken.”
“Actually, we should be planning for Raiden’s attack,” Os corrects.
He’s right—we should. But he can’t just drop that kind of bombshell and not explain. “We’ll plan in a minute.”
“I thought it was pretty self-explanatory,” Os says after glaring at me for a few seconds. “Bonds can be broken. Simple as that.”
“But . . . how?” Gus asks, and I’m glad to see that he and Solana look as confused as me.
Meanwhile, Audra’s staring sadly at the floor. . . .
“What do you know?” I whisper.
She steals a glance at Os before she turns to me.“Aston told me that anything can be broken if you’re willing to harness the power of pain.”
My mouth goes dry. “Pain?”
“I’m sure the process is rather unpleasant, yes,” Os agrees.
“Well then, fun as that sounds, I’ll pass.”
A sad smile peeks from the corners of Os’s mouth. “I never said it would be your choice, Vane. We let you believe we were canceling your betrothal because we thought it would make you less resistant to Solana, and that once you got to know her you’d change your mind. But just because that didn’t work doesn’t mean we’re changing our plans. You may be king, but your opinion isn’t the only one that matters—not when it comes to what’s best for our people. And it’s better for everyone if you’re with Solana.”
“So . . . what? You’re going to chain me up and torture my bond out of me?” I feel dizzy just saying it—and he can bet I’ll go all power of four on him if he tries.
Os looks away. “If you leave us no other choice.”
“Whoa,” Gus breathes.